Arrest Gautam Khattar, Goans will not tolerate insults to S Francisco Xavier: Adv Carlos
PANAJI: Aldona Congress MLA Adv Carlos Alvares Ferreira on Sunday called for the registration of a suo-motu offence against Gautam Khattar for his derogatory remarks against St Francis Xavier and called for his arrest.
“The attack on Sam Francisco Xavier is an attack on every true Goan. I am sure as there were top functionaries present on the stage and may have been present in the audience, hence police officials also must also have been present. The Vasco police must suo motu register an offence for communal disharmony and for creating this kind of a situation with these insults to a religion, to St Francisco Xavier and for hurting our religious sentiments and arrest this man who has come to create a communal divide in Goa,” he said.
He said that the remarks were made “in the presence of dignitaries including minister Mauvin Godinho on April 18 at Tilak Maidan in Vasco” who he said “appears to be least bothered about our insults to Goencho Saib.”
“St Francisco Xavier is revered by all Goans, non-Goans, people from other parts of India and from all over the world and not just Catholics but also non Catholics and this is how we have lived for centuries in Goa respecting each other and each other’s religions, faiths, and beliefs. We cannot tolerate such an insult to St Francisco Xavier and our faith,” he added.
He warned that such statements appear to be deliberately made as part of a “design by some political parties by which to grab power by dividing people on religious or communal lines.”
“I request everyone to be vigilant. Elections are coming soon. These communal elements will break a Cross or a Ghumti or even defile a temple, or a religious structure to create communal tension in an attempt to polarise votes. This can happen with the active connivance of some persons within the government. I appeal to all Goans not to fall prey to these kinds of communal elements who want to destroy Goa and Goans. I demand that the Vasco PI should register an FIR against this individual and arrest him immediately,” he said
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